While the jurors are tasked with making a decision on the evidence they hear, the judge is responsible for providing the law that applies in a particular case. The jury must then apply the facts they heard to the law in the case. The jury receives the law in the case from the judge through a written set of instructions. These instructions are commonly called the jury charge.
The prosecutor and defense attorney may agree that certain instructions should be included in the jury charge. However, quite often, both sides disagree on the instructions or the way the instruction is worded. It goes without saying that the content of these instructions is extremely important. Only a skilled and seasoned attorney knows what should be included or excluded from the instructions. More appeals are fought over this section of the trial than any other.